Tackling Homelessness as a Health Care Problem

Homelessness not only increases the risk of illness and injury – it can also exacerbate existing health conditions and prolong recovery. Access to stable housing is increasingly recognized as an important factor in health outcomes, and leaders in health care are looking to help. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation is providing a $74,900 grant to community nonprofits in Indianapolis, which has 51% of the state’s homeless population, to help almost 150 people find permanent housing.

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Funding Opportunity - Youth Homeless Program Funding

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is now accepting applications through May 15, 2019, for its Youth Homeless Demonstration Program. HUD is offering up to $75 million in grants to support up to 25 local communities in ending youth homelessness.

Setting Aside Stigma: Focus on Behavioral Health

The stigma around behavioral health issues remains a barrier to seeking care for people who are struggling. Health plans hope to change that by normalizing discussion of behavioral health, integrating services seamlessly with physical health care and by investing in community-based programs that make a difference. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee uses care management to coordinate behavioral health care, and Premera Blue Cross is providing $595,000 in grants for behavioral health solutions in underserved communities.

NIHCM Webinar: Turning the Tide on Mental Health Trends

One in five adults in the U.S. experience mental illness including common conditions like anxiety disorders and major depression. In addition to harming emotional well-being, mental illness threatens physical health by increasing the risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The second part in our Defying Despair series, this webinar will focus on current trends in mental and behavioral health and programs designed to turn the tide for the better.

Medicine Via Drone? New Approaches to Rural Health

Rural communities present unique geographical challenges for providing health care, but technology like autonomous vehicles, drones and tele-enabled ambulances has the potential to transform access to care across large distances. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and the Texas A&M Health Science Center are launching a joint program to evaluate challenges in rural health care delivery and to design innovative technology-based solutions

What Big Data Can Tell Us About Our Health

“Any time in upstate New York when there is snow accumulation of two inches or less, there is actually increased incidents of cardiac episodes.”

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York’s manager of decision sciences explains on this podcast how they are using member data and other widely available data like the weather to better understand who may need care and how to better serve them.